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The fourth cohort of the Leadership Institute on Narcotics (L.I.O.N.) kicked off on March 8, 2025, marking the official beginning of 100 mentees’ training. Commissioner Siu Chak-yee officiated at the ceremony and presented certificates of appreciation to the sponsoring body and certificates of appointment to L.I.O.N.’s Executive Committee members, professional trainers and mentors for their dedication to anti-drug efforts.
In his speech, the Commissioner said that L.I.O.N., which was established in 2021 alongside his appointment as the Commissioner, had embarked on its fourth cohort with a programme enhancement on the emerging “space oil drug”. He expected the mentees to promote anti-drug messages proactively. He mentioned that the number of young arrestees for serious drug cases continued to fall from 430 in 2021 to 129 last year, a record low in recent years. The number of students arrested had fallen by nearly 80%, far higher than the decline in non-students, showing the remarkable result of the College’s anti-drug efforts.
He pointed out that the Hong Kong Polytechnic University had conducted a performance evaluation for each of the past three cohorts. The results showed that the anti-drug campaigns organised by the third cohort on their own not only enhanced the mentees’ anti-drug knowledge, leadership and event management skills, but also promoted public understanding of drugs, thereby improving the physical and mental development and critical thinking of youths.
During the ceremony, awardees from the past cohorts came to share their valuable insights gained from the exchange tour to Australia in February 2025. They also recounted how they continued pursuing their anti-drug mission after graduation. A video highlighting the first training day of this cohort was also presented. From late March, 2025, L.I.O.N. will launch training activities such as workshops to equip mentees with anti-drug knowledge and leadership skills.
3rd Cohort’s Exchange Tour to Australia
In appreciation of the mentees’ anti-drug achievements, L.I.O.N. organised a one-week exchange tour to Australia in February for nine gold or silver awardees from the third cohort, as well as two outstanding mentees from the second cohort. During the exchange, the mentees visited several facilities of the Western Australia Police Force and exchanged anti-drug experience with the Cadets of the Western Australia Police Academy.
The mentees were also briefed by various units of the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission on the latest anti-drug policies and enforcement experience. They visited a local juvenile detention centre and interacted with young inmates involved in drug crimes. In the process, the mentees understood the heavy price of drug trafficking and reinforced their commitment to anti-drug mission.
